Hawkeye QB Stanzi is older, wiser

IOWA CITY, Iowa - Ricky Stanzi had been accustomed to playing the role of the younger, more inexperienced quarterback when Iowa faced off against Penn State, while leading the Hawkeyes to surprising victories the last two years over Daryll Clark and the Nittany Lions.

It's different for Stanzi this season. He's the old hand, a fifth-year senior going against Penn State freshman Rob Bolden, a promising talent about 4½ years younger, ready to take the field Saturday night in front of a raucous crowd of more than 70,000 inside Kinnick Stadium.

The 6-foot-4, 230-pound Stanzi appears to have the advantage this time. He is fifth in the nation in passing efficiency, having thrown for 999 yards and nine touchdowns against one interception. Penn State coach Joe Paterno calls him "a good leader (who's) got guts."

But Stanzi has been impressed with the play of Bolden, who was thrust into the starting lineup in the first game, less than three months after graduating from high school and arriving on Penn State's campus.

"For a guy to step in and do that, I have a tremendous amount of respect for him," Stanzi told Iowa beat writers during the week. "I know when I was a freshman, I was in no way, shape, or form ready to step out on that field."

Instead, Stanzi waited until midway through his sophomore season to crack the starting lineup. He burst into prominence by leading the last-minute drive to the game-winning field goal that gave Iowa a win over the then-No. 3 Lions in 2008. He has compiled a 21-5 record as a starter.

Bolden, at least, comes into Saturday night's game having tested his talent and his nerves in a hostile setting. In his second career game, he went into Alabama and showed flashes of good play but threw two costly interceptions, both the byproduct of inexperience.

But Bolden came up with the first clutch moments of his career last week. With Penn State backed up to its 4-yard line holding on to a shaky two-point lead over Temple, he completed two passes on third and long and eventually led the Nittany Lions to an insurance touchdown.

"He's a smart kid, he studies the game," Paterno said. "In his own quiet way, he's a strong leader. So he has all the things that you're looking for in a quarterback, except he's got to get some more experience.

"If he gets down on himself a little bit, it really doesn't show that much. Once in a while he may give some indication he's a little annoyed. But I think overall he's done anything we've asked him to do, he really has."

The quarterbacks are going to be challenged all night by two outstanding defenses. The unit of the 17th-ranked Hawkeyes has gotten more attention, and rightfully so, because it leads the nation in total defense and is fifth in points allowed.

Senior Adrian Clayborn, a 6-4, 285-pound defensive end, caused nightmares for Penn State players and fans by blocking a punt and returning it 53 yards for a touchdown last year, touching off a rally that resulted in a 21-10 Iowa victory.

Clayborn and his teammates in the front seven will be out to stop Penn State senior running back Evan Royster, who rushed for a career-high 187 yards against Temple. If Bolden decides to go to the air, the physical Hawkeye secondary will try to cut down the Lions' big receivers.

"Their discipline is one of the big things that sticks out," Penn State guard Stefen Wisniewski said. "Everyone plays their role real well. Everyone plays with intensity. You're not going to see anyone missing an assignment."

The Lions will work in a new starter along their offensive line. Junior Chima Okoli, a converted defensive tackle, takes the place of Lou Eliades (season-ending torn knee ligament) at offensive right tackle.

Speaking of big receivers, Stanzi has three imposing targets in 6-1, 200-pound Darrell Johnson-Koulianos; 6-4, 215-pound Marvin McNutt; and 6-3, 248-pound tight end Allen Reisner. He could target 5-8 Lions corner Stephen Morris and 5-10 strong safety Drew Astorino at key moments.

But if there is a crack offensively for Iowa, it's shown by the fact that Stanzi has been sacked nine times, while Bolden has gone down just once. Defensive end Pete Massaro, the Marple Newtown High product, has given the Lions' pass rush a spark and will be needed to harass Stanzi.

By Joe Juliano, The Philadelphia Inquirer